Not everyone on the Washington Nationals Opening Day roster will last the whole year. By several different means, these three players are the most likely to end their 2018 in another team’s uniform.
There aren’t very many question marks with the Washington Nationals Opening Day roster. Spring Training will not feature multiple competitions for a roster spot. This is a team secure with what they have.
Like with any MLB team, not everyone who opens the year in a Nationals uniform will be present at game 162. These three players, for three very different reasons, will end their upcoming season somewhere else.
Shawn Kelley
Relief pitcher Shawn Kelley will play the part of Joe Blanton this year. Or maybe he’ll play Oliver Perez. Whichever member of the 2017 Nationals you want to choose, Kelley is the least interesting among the team’s relievers. If not for the $5.5 million guaranteed to him, the Nationals might make him fight for a roster spot this spring.
Last year was a miserable one for Kelley. Nearly half of the hits he allowed were home runs. Limited due to injuries, Kelley went from the Opening Day setup man, to closer, to a forgotten member of a very talented team.
The way I envision Kelley’s season going, at some point, the Nationals will follow all of the steps necessary before he is released. This isn’t the time to toy with any roster spot. Blanton and Perez took up two vital seats in last year’s bullpen. If he performs anything like he did last year, the Nationals should cut Kelley loose before he occupies space.
We can give Kelley a mulligan for last year’s poor performance. For now, I’m not sold on him rebounding with a quality season. His questionable health alone has me confident that he follows in Chris Heisey’s footsteps and gets the mid-year pink slip.